Firefighters working on controlling the Hewlett Gulch fire made progress on Friday, moving the level of containment from 11 percent to 45 percent over the course of the day.

According to Reghan Cloudman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, factors such as overcast weather and low fire growth contributed to the containment efforts.

â€œThings just kind of aligned for our folks out there today,â€ Cloudman said.

The 15 evacuation orders and closure of Highway 14 will be lifted at 7 p.m. Friday, but authorities are advising that residents use caution when traveling through the area.

â€œPeople still need to be aware… There’s still an active fire, and they need to be cautious,â€ Cloudman said.

Cloudman recommended that residents and visitors stay updated about the fire. She also suggested that anyone with weekend plans in the Poudre Canyon use the alternative route via Stove Prarie road for a scenic alternative.

Updates about the fire will be posted at http://inciweb.org/. Residents and others can call 970-498-5500 for additional information.